Sasthrabodhini State-level Science Fair brings together young talents

Trivandrum: More than 250 budding scientists from 27 SC/ST Model Residential Schools (MRS) across the State will converge in the capital city on July 05, 2012 for a four-day science fair organised as part of the Sasthrabodhini project. An initiative of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) funded by the Government’s SC/ST Development Department, Sasthrabodhini is the first of its kind programme to promote talented youngsters from socially and economically disadvantaged communities in science and technology.

Currently being implemented in 27 MRSs, the Sasthrabodhini programme aims to build scientific temperament among students by giving them the opportunity to take up science education projects and interact with field experts, and through special science lectures and quiz programmes organised in schools.

The MRS Science Fair, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy at the Science and Technology Museum, will provide a larger platform for the students to present the findings of their research studies and meet science professionals.

Prof. Rajasekharan Pillai, Executive Vice President, KSCSTE said, “With Sasthrabodhini, our objective is to make sure that children from underprivileged backgrounds do not miss out on the opportunity of becoming the scientists, R&D experts and innovators of tomorrow. We are happy to see the project is on the right track towards achieving its goals. We are also introducing a new scheme to improve the professional competencies of SC/ST category teachers and scientists”.

Around 300 delegates including students and teachers are expected to take part in the fair, the first two days of which will see presentation of reports on 75 shortlisted school science projects. Interactive sessions with scientists and academicians will be held on the third day. Student delegates will also be taken on a tour of the Space Museum at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. A State-level quiz competition will be held on the final day of the fair on June 8.

KSCSTE has been operating several successful programmes for promoting science education in schools, including Sasthraposhini which sets up model science laboratories in Government high schools; the Scheme for Promoting Young Talents in Science (SPYTiS) and the National Green Corps (NGC) which supports environment related studies at the school level.